Andrew Strauss insists he is not worrying about becoming
Graeme Smith’s third England captaincy scalp when the eagerly anticipated Investec Test series against South Africa gets under way.

Killer instinct: South Africa captain Smith (picture: getty)

Smith brought about a tearful end to the reigns of both Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan on his last two tours of England in 2003 and 2008.

That led to the Proteas skipper being dubbed a ‘captain slayer’ by one member of the media on Wednesday.

And, asked if he thought he could buck the trend this summer, Strauss said: ‘I’m confident of that. I don’t think he sees himself as a captain slayer.

‘I’m sure he’s going to focus on trying to make sure his side play good cricket and that’s what I’ll be doing as well.’

Strauss was under pressure following four successive Test defeats earlier this year but strengthened his position with back-to-back centuries against the West Indies earlier this summer.

And his opposite number was unmoved by talk of orchestrating the downfall of yet another England captain.

‘It’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought to,’ said Smith.

‘I think us as a team and myself have come along at the right time and been able to perform well. I don’t take any pride in watching an England captain sitting there in tears resigning.

‘They [Hussain and Vaughan] are guys I’ve a lot of respect for. Andrew has earned that respect too. I focus on South Africa, how we can perform to our best. Those things that happened with Michael and Nasser were just about us being here at the right time more than anything.’

England are expected to name Tim Bresnan as their third seamer today, the Yorkshireman edging out Steven Finn and Graham Onions, who missed training yesterday with a tight hamstring.